Chapter 21, Clover Hill

Richard pushed himself up from the cold, hard ground, quietly making his way past sleeping bodies. He'd left the bulk of his troops fighting to the south, taking only Nicci, Cara and a small company of men. He wanted to travel fast…they could easily join with reinforcements closer to home.

The sun was just beginning to rise and he could see the faint shape of Lieutenant Robb, perched high on a rock, keeping watch. They shared a nod as Richard warmed his hands by the fire. He ached from sleeping on unforgiving ground and rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the stiffness, longing for his bed and Kahlan's comforting warmth.

Staring into the flames, he was quickly lost in thought. Reports of the Khal this far north unnerved him – it was still a good month before the first of the snow would fall. Richard wondered if Drogo followed the Matu's advance – or had the barbarian's will changed, urging him to search for Kahlan now? Either way, Richard didn't like it. He was afraid for her, unsure how best to protect her. There's so many of them he thought, visions of the Matu's attacks filling his mind. Their violence seemed only to grow more vicious the further north they went.

He could hardly push from his thoughts the dreadful images of late – the butchered women, once heavy with child, left bloody and lifeless…young ones crying for milk where there was none to be found, destroyed villages ruthlessly pillaged. Those visions tortured his sleep and set him on a course for Aydindril, no longer hunting the great warrior leader. Richard would lock Kahlan away in the darkest cell of the palace dungeon if need be, standing guard at its gate slaying all who came near until every last savage fell.

xx

"You are looking well, Khaleesi."

"Soon, Sindra, you may call me that, but I am not Khaleesi, yet." Nateri watched her servant in the mirror as her skillful hands combed a brush through her silken hair.

Sindra shrugged as she went about her task, "It's only a matter of time…Once Khal Drogo returns you will be united before the gods. Besides, you carry his child – that alone makes you Khaleesi." Her hands suddenly stopped at seeing her mistress' worry. "What is it, what's wrong?"

It wasn't like Nateri to be afraid. Had Drogo known of her condition he would never have left her, and though plenty of Bakai warriors remained in their homeland, she knew how ruthless the Matu could be. "I'm starting to show. I'm frightened."

They were alone in the tent, but Sindra bent low, smoothing fingers down Nateri's shoulders as she whispered in her ear, "Do not be afraid. I have taken measures to protect you."

Nateri's eyes locked sharply on hers in the mirror. "What are you talking about? What could you possibly do?"

Sindra had taken great pains to see her mistress would be safe. Ever since the visitors from beyond the wall she had noticed a change in the mighty Khal, finding his eye was too keen upon his Kasha. Now that he traveled in her lands, she worried for Nateri's rightful standing.

She smiled, kissing Nateri's ear. "I have spread word that a woman from the west carries the Khal's child. Every Matu warrior alive has gone to join with their brothers beyond the boundary, searching for her now, far away from here…far away from you."

"What?" Nateri was aghast. Sindra did not realize the consequences of what she'd done. "How could you-"

"It was that or have them come for you! Would you rather their Culling Charge be brought here! You are the true Khaleesi, not this imposter from the west!"

Nateri's eyes flashed with her anger, "You foolish girl! Don't you realize what you've done?" She stood in a rush, grabbing a fistful of Sindra's hair, yanking her face close. "Your whispers have sent every Matu man alive right to Khal Drogo! If his Kasha IS with child, he will fight to the death to protect her. And he will be searching for her to bring her here. You know as well as I he must do that alone…the gods demand it so!"

Tears slipped down Nateri's face, realizing the fate that awaited her betrothed. Her words came haunted and full of pain, "You've unleashed an entire realm against him."

xx

"Zedd, see to the wounded. Captain, take your men and secure the town perimeter. It's empty now but the Matu could return at any time."

"Yes, Mother Confessor," with the loyal salute of fist to heart, the soldier went about seeing to her order.

As she turned to go, Zedd stopped her with gentle hand to her arm. "You'll be careful now, won't you dear?"

Kahlan softened her expression, letting the tension of command ease just a bit. She knew he couldn't help but worry. It had been weeks since they'd heard from Richard and though he'd never dare say it out loud, she knew he feared that she and the baby were all he had left in the world. The very thought sent a sting of tears to her eyes. "I promise." With a quick press of her hand to his, she set about searching the village.

Having her own daughter growing inside her, Kahlan understood Larualee's pain. She was desperate to find Sarah and bring a small bit of hope among all this destruction. But she quickly grew angry, surrounded by carnage. Everything was in disarray, much of it destroyed by Dragon's Breath and trampled by a thousand horses. But for the few survivors Zedd was tending to near the mine, it seemed a ghost town. She carefully made her way through the debris; stepping lightly over branches and brambles, rocks and lumber, all strewn about during the horrendous attack.

"How could people be so barbaric?" she whispered bitterly.

One of the men she came upon had his throat slit from ear to ear and the sight sickened her, leaving her in a cold sweat. More than the brutal wound, it was the man's features that left her shaken; his brown hair and angular jaw reminding her so much of Richard. Her heart twisted violently as she tried to push thoughts of him from her mind, carefully making her way into the stables.

The Matu had obviously wanted horses and the villagers had fought back to keep them. They had lost. Kahlan was about to leave when something drew her further back. Quietly she made her way to the darkest shadows. There in the last stall, through what little light filtered in, she saw the shoes of a young girl peeking out from a quivering pile of straw. Kahlan knelt down close beside the feet, keeping her voice soft and comforting. "Are you alright?"

The trembling pile ceased to move, frozen in fear. "You wouldn't be Sarah, would you?" Kahlan asked into the hay. Not a sound came from underneath. She hooked her hair behind her ear, "I'm Kahlan Amnell…the Mother Confessor. If you're Sarah, I know someone who is anxious to see you."

After a few moments the hay started to move and the child beneath poked her head out. No more than eight or nine years old, her eyes red from crying, she looked astounded to find the Mother Confessor kneeling beside her. She sat up, pulling pieces of straw from her hair, "Are you really the Mother Confessor?" she asked, her voice full of amazement.

Kahlan nodded.

The little girl looked at Kahlan's large belly, marveling at the sight. The tale of the last living Confessor married to a new Lord Rahl had traveled far and wide and even a child as young as she understood the enormity of its impact. The realization that she was before her now filled her with reverence – that she carried Lord Rahl's child, doubly so. Her eyes finally made their way to Kahlan's face. "Lord Rahl is your husband," the very idea seemed to strike legendary fear in the child.

Kahlan smiled, trying to put her at ease. "He is. And are you Sarah, daughter of Lauralee Ross?

"You know my mother?"

"Yes I do, and she's very worried about you."

Dark memories suddenly clouded the young girl's face. "I hid from the painted men. They tried to hurt me but I got away." Tears came to her again, "I saw what they did."

Kahlan couldn't imagine the horrors this child had witnessed and gently ran a hand over her hair. "You're a brave girl, Sarah" she said softly. No child should have to go through what this young one had endured. Kahlan's hands went to her large belly, "I can only hope my Mia grows to be as brave as you."

Sarah smiled at last, her eyes brightening for the first time. "Is that her name?"

Kahlan was instantly flooded with the memory of that warm summer day, picnicking with Richard in their secluded grove among the trees. They'd been going through a host of possible names for their daughter but nothing seemed right...

Lazing on a blanket in the soft grass, Richard's head in her lap, Kahlan finally asked, "What about Mia?" not even sure where it had come from.

His smile had been instant. "I love it." He sat up, looking into her face, his hands resting on her thighs, "Do you know that Mia means 'mine'?"

Kahlan grinned. "I didn't know that, but I like it." There seemed no more perfect name for her in all the world. They spent the rest of their picnic teasing each other as to whose 'mine' she was going to be, at last deciding they would share her – but only with each other. Kahlan couldn't help but smile at the memory. What a wonderful afternoon that had been.

A loud commotion suddenly tore her from her dreamy thoughts. The sound of thundering hooves galloping through the dirt, loud screeches, whoops and shouts filled the air. Kahlan could hear the woosh of arrows and the clash of metal as bodies were thrust into the tumult of battle.

"Back under the hay, Sarah" she said quickly.

Sarah grabbed Kahlan's arm with both hands, "You too, Mother Confessor."

Kahlan knew she was in no condition to join ranks, but the men would benefit from her guidance. "It's alright, don't be frightened. I've brought an army," she winked, trying to keep her expression light.

"Then let them fight! I've seen what they do...they're vicious and cruel." She pulled harder on Kahlan's arm. "Please, Mother Confessor…they take babies right from their mother's belly!"

"What?" The blood drained from Kahlan's face.

"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes! You can't go out there Mother Confessor. Please. I'm so afraid." Kahlan held Sarah against her, trying to quiet the child's whimpering. She knew the devastation that would blanket the land should Lord Rahl's wife and child be lost in such a manner. The people needed her alive. They needed the next Confessor. What hope was there in saving Sarah if all else was lost?

"It's alright," Kahlan soothed. "I won't leave you." She quickly pulled her to the ground, covering them both with the hay.

xxx